1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to elections; allowing mail balloting in 
  1.3             certain elections in additional cities and towns; 
  1.4             amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 204B.45, 
  1.5             subdivision 1. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 204B.45, 
  1.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [AUTHORIZATION.] ~~Any statutory or home rule~~ 
  1.10  ~~charter city or town~~ A municipality having fewer than ~~400~~ 800 
  1.11  registered voters on June 1 of an election year and not located 
  1.12  in a metropolitan county as defined by section 473.121 may 
  1.13  provide balloting by mail at any ~~city~~ municipal, county, or 
  1.14  state election with no polling place other than the office of 
  1.15  the auditor or clerk or other locations designated by the 
  1.16  auditor or clerk.  The governing body may apply to the county 
  1.17  auditor for permission to conduct balloting by mail.  The county 
  1.18  board may provide for balloting by mail in unorganized 
  1.19  territory.  The governing body of any municipality may designate 
  1.20  for mail balloting any precinct having fewer than 75 registered 
  1.21  voters, subject to the approval of the county auditor. 
  1.22     Voted ballots may be returned in person to any location 
  1.23  designated by the county auditor or municipal clerk.